Frenetics

Leeds-based rockers Frenetics revive the classic muscular rhythms and ear-catching melodies of 70s era garage punk. In turn they’re dragging their influences, everyone from Television to Iggy Pop, kicking and screaming into the modern rock world. “Ella” is a single which sticks to the inner reaches of the skull upon even a cursory listen, and though there’s nothing particularly forward-reaching about the single, the band clearly romanticizes those figures of the British music scene who played a huge role in developing punk music in the first place. So bringing some attention back to the sounds of a genre’s birth seems appropriate if they’re soon to be taking the lead in pushing said music into the future.

The band’s EP Broken Hands will be released on June 11th, and it further showcases their musical direction. “Satellites” is a tight production which owes more to bands like the Hives in the way they craft the ear-catching hook at the chorus. “See You On The Other Side” features blistering guitars and a wall of thundering percussion to back up the immediately singable title line. But it’s the unforgettable “Swing Kids” which will draw you in for good — given the chance to slow things down and illuminate the depth of their musical chops, it’s hard not to think of bands like Oasis, who were as capable of looking to the past for inspiration as they were at pushing modern alternatives to fans ready and willing to rock. This is definitely a band you’ll want to keep on your radar. - Hear Hear

Frenetic: “frantic, having extreme enthusiasm or energy”.

As defined, the Yorkshire-based Frenetics deliver their power-pop with extreme enthusiasm and a ballsy guitar heavy sound reminiscent of Suede. Frenetics‘ front-man Gavin has a distinctive vocal style. The singer often elongates his vowels as he sings. This is either endearing or annoying depending on your tastes. I found Gavin’s vocal style to be hit and miss and I had a different impression almost line to line within every song. ‘Broken Hand’ is certainly well produced, maybe even over produced at times and the sound often leans toward guitar rock instead of punk. This isn’t a knock on good production. I really liked Alex’s crisp growly guitar sound throughout the EP.

‘Broken Hand’ opens boldly with the catchy track ‘Ella’. The track starts with an infectious tom heavy drum pattern by Sam that leads into song’s chunky guitar melody. Shortly into ‘Ella’ you get a taste of Gavin’s vocal flavour as he stretches the ‘a’ in the chorus : ‘We kissed together in the marketplaaaaaaaaaaaaace…’. ‘Ella’ launches ‘Broken Hand’ with a rocking start, full of sexy swagger and hazy feedback.

On the next track ‘Satellites’ Frenetics toss out another hook-centric vibe. The band shows some musical range on this track as well. Mid-way through ‘Satellites’ is a curious time change as they slow the tempo down. Ironically the Frenetics sound comfortable and well suited to this non-frenetic state. The short time change is used to ramp the song up for a striking ending. ‘See you on the Other Side’ is a solid rock track. Jacko’s bouncy bass-line punctuates this song’s great groove. Part of the vocals have a chilling ghostly echo added to them with Gavin chanting ‘there’s no place to run and hiiiiiiiiide’.

‘Ella’ will likely be the song remembered from this EP but last the track ‘Swing Kids’ aptly demonstrates the Frenetics‘ musical ability. The song starts off slow, almost introspectively but builds and by the end is up to a typical ‘Frenetic’ pace. Alex and Jacko have some impressive instrumental play off each other as the tempo rises throughout the track. The song fades out like it faded in with distorted troubled guitar.

The EP ‘Broken Hand’ serves its purpose well showcasing the potential of the Frenetics. The four catchy well-honed tracks display various musical facets the Frenetics possess. Loud guitar, soft guitar, catchy choruses, thunderous drums, ardent vocals…it’s all in there. I’d be interested to hear where the Frenetics would take a full album’s worth of tracks. - Echoes & Dust

One way to make it easy for others to figure out exactly what your band is about to give yourself a name which reveals a great deal about the content and style of your music. Of course, with some genres this is easier than others, and whilst extreme metal bands the world over have prided themselves on sounding particularly brutal, other less aggressive genres have struggled to find the perfect descriptive name.

Frenetics, then, are a strong contender for one of the better entries in this hypothetical competition. Although clearly structured and methodically put together, 'Ella,' the lead single from their debut EP to be released next month, is frenetic by name and by nature – drums never stop, kicking on through the pauses and the riffs alike, whilst the riffs themselves are short and angular, the action jabbing in perfect indie-punk fashion, whilst the vocals have that trademark Yorkshire swagger that can only be achieved by bringing a band together from the heartlands of Sheffield and Leeds. Frenetics are no Arctic Monkeys soundalikes, but that essence of post-industrial sentiment is alive and well in the band, and it shines through with every accented syllable.

Call them what you like – indie, punk, rock, something beginning with the word 'post' – Frenetics clearly have the ability to turn their rapid-fire playing style into pointed pop music. There's beauty amongst the chaos, a faint sense of the romantic amidst the crashing waves of sound and jaunty riffs blasting out of their amps, and whilst their lyrics are never quite going to get stuck in your head in the same way as the latest Top 40 bubblegum sensation, their lines are clever, choruses sufficiently catchy, and the changes in dynamics are more than enough to keep even the most experienced listener interested.

Frenetics' debut EP is scheduled for an 11th June release, and you can catch a glimpse of things to come with the video for 'Ella' below. There's even a free download link if you can read well enough. - Shout 4 Music

The Basics
When an email pops up in my inbox promising a mix of Magazine and Television, understandably I get rather excited. The band drawing such lofty comparisons are Frenetics, a four-piece who recently impressed supporting Band of Skulls and whose members straddle South and West Yorkshire like some sort of giant, flat-cap donning terrier.

The Verdict
‘Ella’ ushers in the album in typically loud fashion, with drums as delicate as a tank flattening your neighbour’s house while you’re trying to get some shut-eye and amps clearly turned up to the maximum – it’s a brash, in-your-face punk rock assault at times, with the rawness accentuated by singer Gavin’s lairy, Shelley-esque vocals. ‘See You on the Other Side’ is similarly antagonistic, with the band clearly having mastered the loud-louder dynamic and certainly living up to their name, but ‘Satellites’ sees them have a rustle deeper into their bag of musical tricks and display some more harmonious pop sensibilities amongst the occasional franticness.

Closer ‘Swing Kids’ presents Frenetics as a more introverted prospect; the stripped-back sound actually appears a better fit, making evident an added poignancy in Gavin’s voice, and when they do amp things up towards the end, it has far more effect, leaving you to envisage a panoramic closing scene reminiscing on the frenzy they created previously. When they’re being a little less frenetic, you feel that this band could be very, very good indeed.

7/10 - Exposed Magazine

Despite that skeletal cover, Yorkshire quartet Frenetics generate a muscular racket that has one foot in late 70s punk and the other in the pre-Britpop glam of Suede (or Big White Stairs for fans lesser know 90s indie bands). There's a Brett Anderson twang to the vocal intonation but the thunderous drums and crunching guitars add a weightier, more pressing sound. They definitely veer towards the heavier end of punk but the load is lightened by those vocals and the poppy melodies. Essentially what we're looking at is powerpop.

Lead track 'Ella' has a spiky riff and looks to the more experimental guitar wielders of new-wave before unleashing a chorus that's beamed in from an early Suede track. There's a hint of Gang Of Four and a hint of Magazine. 'Satellites' tricks you into thinking it's hard rock with a beefy opening before a great melody cuts through it and balances things out. 'See You On The Other Side' similarly straddles the respectable end of 90s British guitar music and '77 spirit, and the slower paced 'Swing Kids' brings a nice contrast with its less forceful nature and anthemic structure. If you've found the hyped indie-rock of Tribes a bit too laddish then Frenetics offer a much more appetizing version. - The Sound of Confusion (blog)

YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF:
Frenetics from Yorkshire.

IN A NUTSHELL, THEY'RE A BIT LIKE:
An accessible descendent of the squat-scene post punk groups - with a mischievously likeable singer & quasi-pop choruses.

FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL:
Frenetics have already supported Band Of Skulls, and are now lined up to release their debut Broken Hand EP on 11 June, which draws on influences such as Richard Hell, The Velvet Underground and Magazine.

IT'S ONLY A FIRST DATE, BUT WE'RE THINKING:
Most brittle post punk bands forget the catchiness factor - Frenetics don't. - Artrocker